Drawing
Maker & role
Conrad Martens (b.1801, d.1878), Artist
Production date
22 Feb 1838
See full details
Object detail
Title
Vineyard at Regentville
Production place
Measurements
H: 20 x W: 29.3cm (H: 200 x W: 293mm); Archival mat, H: 40.1 x W: 56cm (H: 401 x W: 560mm)
Subject Place
Credit line
Gift, through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2004
Caroline Simpson Collection, Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caroline Simpson Collection, Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Vineyard at Regentville, by Conrad Martens , 1838, pencil on paper
Description
Regentville near Penrith, built 1823-1825, was the country house of Sir John Jamison (1776-1844), physician, landowner, horse-racing patron and a founding President of the Agricultural Society of NSW. In its heydey Regentville enjoyed a reputation as one of the most 'improved' properties in the colony and Jamison was said to have 'lived like a genial and prosperous English squire' [ref: entry in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 2 pp.11-12]. Around 1829-1830 Jamison employed a German emigrant to lay out a terraced vineyard at Regentville using the latest methods from Germany and France. One contemporary report describes the vineyard as being enclosed by hedges of china rose and lemon and containing between 30 and 40,000 vines, including more than 200 varieties. [ref: Colleen Morris and Geoffrey Britton 'Colonial cultural landscapes of the Cumberland Plain and Camden', National Trust of Australia (NSW), 1998-2000]
Martens made at least two visits to Regentville. A sketch of the house, titled Regentville, and dated 17 October 1835, is in the Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (PXC 295/65) and another sketch, showing only part of the house and dated 20 October 1835, is in the Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales (ZDLPX 24, f.19). This second sketch was the preliminary drawing for a watercolour, also dated 1835, formerly in the Dallhold Collection. Martens' "Account of pictures painted at Sydney, N.S. Wales" records the sale on 14 March 1836 to Sir John Jamison of a 'View of Regentville' for 10 guineas and another sale on 23 May 1836, also for 10 guineas, of a 'View from Regentville'. [Mitchell Library ZDL MS142, folios 159,160].
The 1838 sketch was a preliminary drawing for a watercolour recorded in Martens' account book (folio 154) as 'Vineyard at Regentville', sold to Jamieson for 12 guineas on 22 March 1838, and now in a private collection.
Published in:
Geraldine O'Brien "Devastating bush fires reveal early vineyard" in Reflections: the National Trust Quarterly May-June 2002, pp.28-29.
This acquisition is part of the Caroline Simpson Collection, originally housed at Clyde Bank, an 1820s Georgian mansion in The Rocks. Clyde Bank was acquired by Caroline Simpson in 1992 and, following its conservation, opened to the public in 1996 as a showcase for her private collection of Australian colonial furniture, pictures, objets d’art and images of colonial places from around the world. Caroline Simpson OAM (1930-2003) supported many causes during her lifetime, particularly the conservation and appreciation of Australia’s colonial heritage. Her philanthropy was generous but mostly anonymous.
Martens made at least two visits to Regentville. A sketch of the house, titled Regentville, and dated 17 October 1835, is in the Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (PXC 295/65) and another sketch, showing only part of the house and dated 20 October 1835, is in the Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales (ZDLPX 24, f.19). This second sketch was the preliminary drawing for a watercolour, also dated 1835, formerly in the Dallhold Collection. Martens' "Account of pictures painted at Sydney, N.S. Wales" records the sale on 14 March 1836 to Sir John Jamison of a 'View of Regentville' for 10 guineas and another sale on 23 May 1836, also for 10 guineas, of a 'View from Regentville'. [Mitchell Library ZDL MS142, folios 159,160].
The 1838 sketch was a preliminary drawing for a watercolour recorded in Martens' account book (folio 154) as 'Vineyard at Regentville', sold to Jamieson for 12 guineas on 22 March 1838, and now in a private collection.
Published in:
Geraldine O'Brien "Devastating bush fires reveal early vineyard" in Reflections: the National Trust Quarterly May-June 2002, pp.28-29.
This acquisition is part of the Caroline Simpson Collection, originally housed at Clyde Bank, an 1820s Georgian mansion in The Rocks. Clyde Bank was acquired by Caroline Simpson in 1992 and, following its conservation, opened to the public in 1996 as a showcase for her private collection of Australian colonial furniture, pictures, objets d’art and images of colonial places from around the world. Caroline Simpson OAM (1930-2003) supported many causes during her lifetime, particularly the conservation and appreciation of Australia’s colonial heritage. Her philanthropy was generous but mostly anonymous.
Accession number
L2005/11
Share
Maker
Object name
Styles
Technique
Contact Us
Head Office
The Mint, 10 Macquarie St
Sydney, NSW 2000
On Gadigal land
T 02 8239 2288
TTY 02 8239 2377
E info@mhnsw.au
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.